Given the competitive nature of last month’s polls that gave him victory by 58.46 per cent - the lowest ever margin recorded by a president - Magufuli is likely to be a no-nonsense leader in a bid to demonstrate to those who voted for him that they did the right thing, they noted.
During interviews with ‘The Guardian’ yesterday, many said that given his record in various portfolios he has held previously as cabinet minister, Magufuli’s presidency will most likely make “hard decisions” geared at transforming the civil service in a move to please the ordinary citizens yet anger corrupt and lethargic civil servants.
Senior lecturer at Saint Augustine University of Tanzania - Mtwara University College, Dr Aidan Msafiri said Magufuli is capable of driving changes because he is knowledgeable of where the weaknesses are and what to do.He noted that to that end, the head of state will need to appoint his cabinet in a rather carefully way.
Dr Msafiri, who is also the country’s Climate Change Ambassador 2015 noted that according to the promises he made during the election campaigns, extreme bureaucracy in some public offices is likely to end as executives would be mercilessly held accountable under his government.
He believes that work ethic in the public service will improve because the President himself is known to be good at what he does and definitely tolerate laziness.
He added that many civil servants would most likely convert before they face the wrath of Magufuli.
Dr Helen Kijo-Bisimba, Executive Director of Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) said that corruption that has for years been fought without much success would significantly go down under Magufuli as the President-elect had made it one of his biggest promises during the campaigns.
If he does little, voters would take note and punish him in the 2020 election and the President knows just that, Kijo-Bisimba said.
Acting Executive Director of Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP) Lilian Liundi was optimistic that the fifth government under Magufuli will bring significant changes in women representation and participation considering the fact that Vice President is a woman.
“We are eagerly waiting for the 50/50 ratio as promised … it’s our hope that Magufuli’s legacy will consider women when appointing cabinet ministers,” Liundi said.
According to Liundi, Magufuli’s leadership would most likely address issues facing women such as water supply, lack of essential medicines and equipment at maternal wards in public hospitals.
Deputy Secretary General of the Tanzania Bus Owners Association (Taboa) Severin Ngalo said it is a good thing that the outgoing Works Minister is familiar with problems facing the transport sector - the sector that has for years been dogged with endless strikes.
He said stakeholders in the sector are praying that Magufuli’s government would look into all the issues that lead to the strikes which negatively impact, not only on the social life, but also on the economy.
On Thursday last week, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) declared CCM candidate Dr John Magufuli winner of Tanzania's presidential election.
He polled 58.46 per cent of the votes cast against seven other opposition parties. Chadema whose candidate Edward Lowassa came second scored 39.97 per cent. Magufuli, garnered 8,882,935 million votes against Lowassa's 6,072,848.
Besides the two presidential contestants, others were: Anna Mgwira of ACT who got 98, 763 votes, Chief Rutalosa Lyemba of ADC (66, 049 votes), Chauma’s Hashimu Rungwe (49, 256 votes), Janken Kasambala of NRA (8,021 votes), Macmillan Lyimo of TLP (8, 198 votes) and Fahmi Dovutwa of UPDP who won 7,785 votes.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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